Bryant 'scared' about post-basketball future

Bryant, who turns 36 in August, is under contract with the Lakers for two more seasons. He played just six games last season. After he returned from an Achilles tendon tear, he sustained a season-ending knee injury.

Bryant is the subject of a documentary that airs on Showtime in November. “Kobe Bryant's Muse” looks into his life last season when the Lakers went 27-55 as he recovered from the injuries. The absence forced Bryant to think more about his future after his playing days are over.

“I'm afraid too,” he said Friday at the summer TV critics' meeting. “You really have to lean on muses and mentors going forward, just as I did as a kid. It's about having that next wave of things, which is scary as hell, but it's fun at the same time.”

Bryant said this film is different than the ESPN documentary “Kobe Doin' Work” from 2009, which was directed by Spike Lee. The new film includes former Lakers great Magic Johnson and former Lakers coach and current Knicks president Phil Jackson.

“It's more introspective,” Bryant said. “It's about who or what has inspired me.” The Lakers are still looking for a new coach and lost power forward/center Pau Gasol to the Bulls.

“We're still trying to figure the roster out,” Bryant said. “We don't know what system we're going to be operating out of. A lot of those questions remain to be answered.”

However, Bryant said he is “very happy” with the effort made by the Lakers in trying to get forward Carmelo Anthony and keep Gasol. Anthony chose to remain with the New York Knicks.